Recent Legal News & Firm Updates

On April 17, 2021, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) quietly rolled out a new website for the much-anticipated Restaurant Revitalization Fund (“RRF”) program.  The website includes, among other things, a sample Application and Program Guide.  A copy of the Program Guide can be found here and a copy of the of the sample Application can…

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RIW is pleased to announce that Eric Sigman has joined the firm as a Shareholder in the Corporate & Business Law and Hospitality Practice Groups. Eric focuses his corporate practice in the areas of corporate formation, capitalization, succession planning, commercial leasing, and mergers and acquisitions. His transactional practice includes counseling clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, asset…

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On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”) into law. The wide-ranging $1.9 trillion stimulus bill establishes a $28.6 Billion “Restaurant Revitalization Fund” (the “RRF”) within the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”). The RRF is the first package of its kind to target restaurants through…

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Following weeks of negotiation, Congress passed the 5,593 page Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”) in the late hours December 21, 2020, that, in part, allocates approximately $900 billion towards emergency coronavirus relief and effectively extends and expands the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) and existing unemployment assistance programs.  A copy of the Act can…

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On September 29, 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that effective Monday, October 5th, lower risk communities* will be permitted to move into Step II of Phase III of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan with the following restrictions:     Indoor performance venues will be permitted to open with 50% capacity with a maximum of 250 people….

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On September 15, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced an extension of state tax deferral measures aimed at easing COVID-19 related financial burdens for the retail and hospitality sectors.   The tax deferral extension will include the following measures:   Extended Time Period for Deferral. Sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes will be…

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We thought you’d be interested in this summary put together by Restaurant Trends Seminar partner, the Boston Restaurant Group: In the past a “good” lease was always considered the most valuable asset of a restaurant. Post COVID-19, it has become the restaurant’s greatest liability. I realize how difficult the past few months have been for everyone in the…

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Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in the Re-Opening Guidance for the Massachusetts Restaurant Industry webinar last Wednesday. These are challenging times and we hope it was useful. As many people requested, we are enclosing a recording of the webinar in the link below for those who would like to review what was covered….

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The RIW Hospitality Practice Group will host the Re-Opening Guidance for the Massachusetts Restaurant Industry Webinar on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. WEBINAR INFO: Restaurant operators face a host of business and legal hurdles as the industry re-opens under Phase 2 of Governor Baker’s Re-Opening Plan. Please join restaurant industry professionals, regulators,…

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At a press conference on May 29, 2020, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced a plan for re-opening restaurants throughout Massachusetts. Re-opening will commence during Phase 2, with a specific date expected to be announced the first week in June.   Below is a synopsis of the re-opening plan:   • The…

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